Powder container, toner container, and image forming apparatus

• US 7,702,248 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Adachi, Tomoya, Miyazaki, Takafumi, Inoue, Tomofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Hoan H
• Application Number:
  US11/616,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20070147859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 399/9, 399/13, 399/34, 399/35, 399/123, 399/343, 399/358, 399/360
• US Class Current: 399/35
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0856 Detection or control means for the developer level
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0862 the level being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0872 the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0891 for conveying or circulating developer, e.g. augers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0665 Generally horizontally mounting of said toner cartridge parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0822 with wall or blade between agitators
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0852 reciprocating

Abstract

A powder container is configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used. A powder inlet is provided, through which a powder enters into the powder container. A powder detecting unit includes a powder detector for detecting a full of the powder. A powder conveying unit is provided between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit. A space between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit is divided into a plurality of areas.

Claims

1. A powder container configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used, the powder container comprising:

a powder inlet through which a powder enters into the powder container;

a powder detecting unit that includes a powder detector for detecting a full of the powder; and

a powder conveying unit that is provided between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit, wherein

a space between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit is divided into a plurality of areas.

2. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein

the areas include

an inlet area near the powder inlet,

a detecting area near the powder detector, and

a reservoir area for accumulating the powder.

3. The powder container according to claim 2, wherein

the inlet area is larger than the detecting area.

4. The powder container according to claim 2, further comprising:

a conveying unit that conveys the powder from the powder inlet to an outlet of the inlet area.

5. The powder container according to claim 2, further comprising:

a conveying unit that conveys the powder from an inlet of the detecting area to the powder detector.

6. The powder container according to claim 2, further comprising:

an outlet of the inlet area is closer to an inlet of the reservoir area than to the detecting area.

7. The powder container according to claim 2, further comprising:

a conveying unit that conveys the powder from an outlet of the inlet area to an inlet of the reservoir area.

8. The powder container according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of conveying units provided in each of the areas, the conveying units having different conveying directions at different positions.

9. The powder container according to claim 8, wherein

the conveying units are capable of moving back and forth on a horizontal plane.

10. The powder container according to claim 1, further comprising:

a partitioning member that separates each of the areas.

11. The powder container according to claim 10, wherein

the partitioning member is capable of moving.

12. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein

the areas are separated by different heights of bottom surfaces of the areas.

13. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein

the areas are separated by a rib that is provided on a bottom surface at a boundary between the areas.

14. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein

the areas are not completely separated from each other.

15. A toner container comprising:

a powder container configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used, wherein

the powder container includes

a powder inlet through which a powder enters into the powder container,

a powder detecting unit that includes a powder detector for detecting a full of the powder, and

a powder conveying unit that is provided between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit, and

a space between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit is divided into a plurality of areas.

16. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a toner container that includes a powder container configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used, wherein

the powder container includes

a powder inlet through which a powder enters into the powder container,

a powder detecting unit that includes a powder detector for detecting a full of the powder, and

a powder conveying unit that is provided between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit, and

a space between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit is divided into a plurality of areas.

17. A powder container configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used, the powder container comprising:

a powder inlet through which a powder enters into the powder container;

a powder detecting unit that has a reservoir space where the powder is accumulated, an accumulated powder in the reservoir space being detected by a powder detector installed in the apparatus; and

a powder conveying unit that is provided between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit, wherein

a space between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit is divided into a plurality of areas.

18. The powder container according to claim 17, wherein the areas include

an inlet area near the powder inlet,

a detecting area near the powder detector, and

a reservoir area for accumulating the powder.

19. The powder container according to claim 18, wherein the inlet area is larger than the detecting area.

20. The powder container according to claim 18, further comprising:

a conveying unit that conveys the powder from the powder inlet to an outlet of the inlet area.

21. The powder container according to claim 18, further comprising:

a conveying unit that conveys the powder from an inlet of the detecting area to the powder detector.

22. The powder container according to claim 18, further comprising:

an outlet of the inlet area is closer to an inlet of the reservoir area than to the detecting area.

23. The powder container according to claim 18, further comprising:

a conveying unit that conveys the powder from an outlet of the inlet area to an inlet of the reservoir area.

24. The powder container according to claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of conveying units provided in each of the areas, the conveying units having different conveying directions at different positions.

25. The powder container according to claim 24, wherein the conveying units are capable of moving back and forth on a horizontal plane.

26. The powder container according to claim 17, further comprising:

a partitioning member that separates each of the areas.

27. The powder container according to claim 26, wherein the partitioning member is capable of moving.

28. The powder container according to claim 17, wherein the areas are separated by different heights of bottom surfaces of the areas.

29. The powder container according to claim 17, wherein the areas are separated by a rib that is provided on a bottom surface at a boundary between the areas.

30. The powder container according to claim 17, wherein the areas are not completely separated from each other.

31. A toner container comprising:

a powder container configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used, wherein

the powder container includes

a powder inlet through which a powder enters into the powder container,

a powder detecting unit that has a reservoir space where the powder is accumulated, an accumulated powder in the reservoir space being detected by a powder detector installed in the apparatus, and

a powder conveying unit that is provided between the powder inlet, and the powder detecting unit, and

a space between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit is divided into a plurality of areas.

32. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a toner container that includes a powder container configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used, wherein

the powder container includes

a powder inlet through which a powder enters into the powder container,

a powder detecting unit that has a reservoir space where the powder is accumulated, an accumulated powder in the reservoir space being detected by a powder detector installed in the apparatus, and

a powder conveying unit that is provided between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit, and

a space between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit is divided into a plurality of areas.